Adjusted EBITDA
The increase in adjusted EBITDA resulted primarily from an increase in franchise royalty revenue and Company-operated restaurant margin, partially offset by an increase in franchise support and other costs.
Adjusted Earnings Per Share
The increase in adjusted earnings per share resulted primarily from an increase in adjusted EBITDA, fewer shares outstanding as a result of the Company’s share repurchase programs, and a lower tax rate as the result of an expected tax reserve release, partially offset by higher depreciation expense.
Free Cash Flow
The increase in free cash flow resulted primarily from an increase in cash flows from operations, driven primarily by an increase in net income, excluding the sale of our ownership interest in Inspire Brands in the third quarter of 2018 for $450 million (~$353 million, net of tax).
New Restaurant Development
In the third quarter of 2019 the Company had 40 global restaurant openings, and an increase of 24 net new restaurants. The Company continues to expect 2019 global net new restaurant growth of approximately 1.5 percent.
Image Activation
Image Activation, which includes reimaging existing restaurants and building new restaurants, remains an integral part of our global growth strategy. At the end of the third quarter of 2019, approximately 56 percent of the global system was image activated. This compares to approximately 50 percent image activated at the end of 2018.
Company Repurchases 1.3 Million Shares for $26.4 Million in Third Quarter
The Company repurchased 1.3 million shares for $26.4 million in the third quarter at an average price of $19.91 per share and has repurchased 0.4 million shares for $9.2 million in the fourth quarter to date. The Company currently has $161.1 million remaining on its existing $225 million share repurchase authorization that expires on March 1, 2020.
The Company recently announced at its 2019 Investor Day that it intends to launch a $100 million accelerated share repurchase program in the fourth quarter of 2019. This program is part of the Company’s existing $225 million share repurchase authorization that expires on March 1, 2020.
2019 and 2020 Outlook
This release includes forward-looking guidance for certainnon-GAAP financial measures, including systemwide sales, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share, free cash flow and adjusted tax rate. The Company excludes certain expenses and benefits from adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share, free cash flow and adjusted tax rate, such as the impact from our advertising funds, including the net change in the restricted operating assets and liabilities and any excess or deficit of advertising funds revenues over advertising funds expenses, impairment of long-lived assets, reorganization and realignment costs, system optimization (gains) losses, net, loss on early extinguishment of debt, the gain on the sale of our investment in Inspire Brands, the impact of the proposed settlement of the Financial Institutions case and the timing and resolution of certain tax matters. Due to the uncertainty and variability of the nature and amount of those expenses and benefits, the Company is unable without unreasonable effort to provide projections of net income, earnings per share, net cash provided by operating activities or reported tax rate or a reconciliation of those projected measures.
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